Ana Smrekar, Author at CEP

Successful conclusion of the Protection of Civilians course for EUAM Ukraine

30. 5. 2022 | EUCTI, POTC, PR

Between 23 and 26 May 2022 Centre for European Perspective (CEP) has successfully implemented a four-day online training on Protection of Civilians for EUAM Ukraine in coordination with the EU Civilian Training Initiative (EUCTI) project.

The course was conducted by Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC), situated at CEP premises. POTC already delivered a Protection of Civilians (PoC) training in April, hence the training targeting EUAM Ukraine needed only a slight adjustment to be able to support the mission members in time of Russian aggression. It was attended by 21 participants, all member staff of EUAM Ukraine.

During those four days, eight trainers shared their knowledge and practical expertise on the topics such as basic principles, definitions, and constitutive elements of PoC, its legal framework, conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, the EU approach to PoC, and last but not least examples of good and bad PoC practices.

Interactive lessons, group work, and small-scale simulation exercises constituted only one part of the two-way learning process between participants and trainers. The second part was a two-way process of experience sharing during the whole training. Experts came from different backgrounds, but all had one thing in common: extensive practical experience in peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and PoC, and the willingness to share it with their trainees. This proved to be highly appreciated by the participants and a value-added to the training.

Participants pointed out the importance of understanding who a civilian is to be able to better protect them during times of hostilities and violence. They also appreciated discussing the sexual and gender-based violence during the times of an armed conflict, as some of them mentioned not enough attention is given to this topic.

CEP is proud to be a part of EUCTI and wishes participants – first and foremost – to remain safe and to be able to use gained knowledge to help conflict-affected people.

Second Protection of Civilians training is around the corner

17. 5. 2022 | EUCTI, POTC, PR

Centre for European Perspective will, in the scope of the EU Civilian Training Initiative (EUCTI) project, between 23 and 26 May 2022 implement Protection of Civilians (PoC) training. The training’s target audience is the staff of the EU Advisory Mission in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine). It is an adaptation of an already existing PoC training, implemented in April by the Peace Operations Training Centre (What is POTC?), coordinated by CEP.

Throughout this four-day online training, up to 25 participants will participate in theoretical and practical lessons from the field. Experienced trainers and experts will share their knowledge on PoC basics, historical developments in the field, PoC legal framework, contemporary challenges, and good practices within the mission environment.

Why PoC and why EUCTI? To get answers to these questions and learn more about the EUCTI click HERE and HERE.

European Digital Diplomacy Exchange general training of 2022 is concluded

16. 5. 2022 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR

After four sunny though intense days filled with lectures, workshops, simulation exercises as well as social activities a new generation of European Digital Diplomacy Exchange (EDDE) participants was born. From 10 to 13 May the communicators from different ministries from several countries gathered in Bled, Slovenia to improve their digital communication skills. The training was organized by the Centre for European Perspective together with the U.S. Department of State.

European Digital Diplomacy Exchange is a project as well as an intragovernmental network of government communicators. The project goes back to 2017 when the first training was organized. The overall project aims to increase participants’ and members’ collective capacities to operate within the digital information space effectively.

This year the training was attended by 35 participants from 16 countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Estonia, Georgia, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine).

Held by respective experts in their field, the lectures and workshops covered topics such as the development of new digital technologies and their impact on communication and public diplomacy, social media analytics and how to use data for your advantage, fight against disinformation, smartphone videography and photography, development of digital campaigns and much more. Equipped with new knowledge the participants were given a fictitious scenario for which they had to prepare a communication strategy.

Besides attaining new knowledge and skills, the participants had a chance to meet and befriend their peers also working in the field of (digital) communication. Networking and the creation of long-lasting bonds among the participants is one of the main added values of EDDE.

The end of the EDDE training was further celebrated with the release of a long-awaited guide for digital diplomacy practitioners – Be a Digital Diplomat. The publication will be publicly released soon – follow CEP’s website for more information.

Announcement: European Digital Diplomacy Exchange training 2022

6. 5. 2022 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR

In 2019 one of the first European Digital Diplomacy Exchange training was held in Bled, Slovenia. Now, three years later the training will once again take place at the same location. From 10 to 13 May 2022 a new generation of EDDE participants will get a chance to improve their knowledge and skills in the field of digital communication. The training is organized by the Centre for European Perspective together with the U.S. Department of State.

Since 2017 the European Digital Diplomacy Exchange has grown into a wide intragovernmental network of government communicators. The aim of the network and the overall project is to increase the collective capacities of its members in order for them to effectively operate within the digital information space.

Over four days of training 35 participants from 16 countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Estonia, Georgia, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine) will gain theoretical as well as practical knowledge on digital communication. The topics covered at the workshops will range from the advance of digital technologies and their impact on communication and public diplomacy, digital rhetoric, and working with influencers to smartphone photography and videography.

CEP at an Expert Panel on European Cooperation in the Western Balkans

11. 4. 2022 | PR

Photo by Urša Rahne

Last Friday, on 8 April, the Executive Director of the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) Katja Geršak actively participated in an expert panel on European Cooperation in the Western Balkans (WB). The panel was part of a working seminar, organized within the scope of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and with the help of the French Embassy in Slovenia, it was done in cooperation with the Centre of Excellence in Finance (CEF) in Ljubljana.

The panel was organized as part of the preparation for the Conference on Western Balkans in June 2022. It was organized for the diplomatic community – ambassadors from EU member states and from WB countries. Panelists presented their activities implemented in the region which was proceeded by a discussion on possible ways to enhance regional cooperation and cooperation of EU stakeholders to help advance development and EU integration in the region.

Concrete experiences of EU-Western Balkans cooperation were presented by three panelists from three organizations:

Francesco Ferrero from European Investment Bank (EIB)
Jana Repanšek, executive director of CEF
Katja Geršak, executive director of CEP

CEP has been traditionally present in the region with its development cooperation projects. Currently, it is providing support to North Macedonia in the EU accession process, more specifically in the field of financial investigations and communication in the negotiation process. At the same time, it is enhancing the capacity to better manage border patrols in Serbia. Some other flagship projects in the region, supported by various other donors, include European Digital Diplomacy Exchange and Countering Foreign Perpetrated Disinformation in WB. Last but not least, Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC), working within the scope of CEP, provides training for personnel deployed to peacekeeping missions and operations and shares know-how in the WB region as well.

CEP plans to continue to implement development cooperation projects with the help of all relevant stakeholders.

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